Oil/liquid dynamic separation rotating disk filter system with barrier layer formation

Claim 1

A process for separating particles from a fluid mixture, comprising the steps of: constructing a rotatable disk filter having a plurality of porous disks that have a diameter greater than 4 inches, the porous disks being mounted on a rotatable shaft and being made from sintered particles; providing smooth surfaces on the disks to minimize turbulence when the disk filter is rotated at high speed; immersing the disk filter in a fluid mixture which includes particles to be separated from a fluid mixture; rotating the disk filter at a sufficiently high velocity so that the disks have working areas on said surfaces, said working areas rotating at velocities greater than 15 feet per second; forming barrier layers as planar layers in nonturbulent zones of the mixture which are generally parallel to said working areas; forming first zones between said barrier layers and said working areas of said surface containing a component of said fluid mixture including a first liquid, said liquid contained in said first zones rotating at generally the same velocities as said working areas; forming second zones, separated from said first zones by said barrier layers and remote from said working areas, containing a component of said fluid mixture, including a mixture of said first liquid and particles, which moves at velocities substantially slower than said rotational velocities of said first liquid contained in said first zones; allowing said fluid mixture to enter said second zones; inhibiting a migration of particles across said barrier layers from said second zones to said first zones to minimize clogging of said surfaces of said disks; and separating particles from the fluid mixture by passing said first liquid through said barrier layers and through passageways between said sintered particles in said disks.